Apparatus and method for manipulating in-vehicle devices using steering wheel

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes a reference signal input unit for inputting a reference signal to a driver through a charged plate, a touch sensor for receiving the reference signal through human body communication and for detecting a touch of the driver, and a controller for generating a control signal on the basis of the results detected by the touch sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2015-0171699, filed on Dec. 3, 2015 with the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method formanipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel and, moreparticularly, to an apparatus and a method for manipulating in-vehicledevices by detecting a touch pattern of a driver through a plurality ofsensors mounted on a rim of a steering wheel and generating a controlsignal corresponding thereto.

BACKGROUND

In general, a steering wheel is a device that is manipulated by a driverso as to change a direction of travel of a vehicle, and typicallyincludes an outer rim, a central hub, and spokes connecting the rim tothe hub.

Conventionally, an apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devices using asteering wheel includes: an electrostatic sensor having a dielectriclayer formed on an upper surface of a spoke of a steering wheel and oneor more electrodes stacked on edge portions of an upper surface of thedielectric layer; a signal analyzer for analyzing a signal generated bythe electrostatic sensor; and a control signal generator for generatinga control signal for in-vehicle devices using the analyzed signal. Theapparatus may recognize a drag operation applied to the upper surface ofthe spoke or touch operations repeated at certain times and controlin-vehicle devices on the basis of the recognized operations.

In such a conventional apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devicesusing a steering wheel, the electrostatic sensor that senses a touch ofa driver may be disposed on the upper surface of the spoke of thesteering wheel, such that the driver may have difficulty in removing hisor her hands from the rim of the steering wheel in order to manipulatedevices.

In addition, the conventional apparatus for manipulating in-vehicledevices using a steering wheel may control in-vehicle, or other, devicessuch as turn signal lights, emergency lights, wipers, audio volume, andthe like, but does not provide a graphic interface control function,such as the ability to move a cursor and select an icon on a displayscreen.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentionedproblems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by theprior art are maintained intact.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus and a methodfor manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel, in which aplurality of sensors that detects a touch of a driver is provided on arim of the steering wheel, such that it is determined whether the touchof the driver is intended for steering or manipulating, and when thetouch of the driver is intended for manipulating, a control signal withrespect to a corresponding touch pattern is generated, such that thedriver can manipulate in-vehicle devices without removing his or herhands from the rim of the steering wheel.

The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the foregoingobjects, and any other objects and advantages not mentioned herein willbe clearly understood from the following description. The presentinventive concept will be more clearly understood from exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, it will be apparentthat the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can beachieved by elements claimed in the claims and a combination thereof.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus formanipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes: areference signal input unit inputting a reference signal to a driverthrough a charged plate; a touch sensor receiving the reference signalthrough human body communication and detecting a touch of the driver;and a controller generating a control signal on the basis of the resultsdetected by the touch sensor.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus formanipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes: astorage storing a table in which steering angle ranges according tovehicle speed are recorded; a steering angle sensor detecting a steeringangle of the steering wheel; a vehicle speed sensor detecting a vehiclespeed; a touch sensor detecting a touch of a driver; and a controllerdetermining that the touch of the driver is intended for manipulatingwhen the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor is withina steering angle range corresponding to the vehicle speed detected bythe vehicle speed sensor on the basis of the table stored in thestorage, analyzing a touch pattern of the driver, and generating acontrol signal corresponding thereto.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method formanipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes:inputting, by a reference signal input unit, a reference signal to adriver through a charged plate; receiving, by a touch sensor, thereference signal through human body communication to detect a touch ofthe driver; and generating, by a controller, a control signal on thebasis of the results detected by the touch sensor.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method formanipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes:storing, by a storage, a table in which steering angle ranges accordingto vehicle speed are recorded; detecting, by a touch sensor, a touch ofa driver; detecting, by a steering angle sensor, a steering angle of thesteering wheel; detecting, by a vehicle speed sensor, a vehicle speed;determining, by a controller, whether or not the detected steering angleis within a steering angle range corresponding to the detected vehiclespeed; determining that the touch of the driver is intended formanipulating when the detected steering angle is within the steeringangle range, analyzing a touch pattern of the driver, and generating acontrol signal corresponding thereto; and determining that the touch ofthe driver is intended for steering unless the detected steering angleis within the steering angle range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an apparatus for manipulatingin-vehicle devices using a steering wheel according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of detecting a touch of a driver throughhuman body communication according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a touch sensor, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for manipulating in-vehicledevices using a steering wheel, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings so thatthose skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains caneasily carry out technical ideas described herein. In addition, adetailed description of well-known techniques associated with thepresent disclosure will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarilyobscure the concepts of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an apparatus for manipulatingin-vehicle devices using a steering wheel, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus for manipulating in-vehicledevices using a steering wheel, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure, may include a storage 10, a steering anglesensor 20, a vehicle speed sensor 30, a reference signal input unit 40,a touch sensor 50 and a controller 60.

With respect to each of the aforementioned elements, first, the storage10 may store a table in which steering angle ranges according to vehiclespeed are recorded. When a touch of a driver is detected, the table maybe used by the controller 60 to determine whether the touch is intendedfor steering or manipulating. Here, as the vehicle speed is increased,the touch needs to be recognized for steering even with respect to a lowsteering angle. Thus, the table may, include, for example, variations insteering angle ranges according to vehicle speed, as shown in thefollowing table 1:

TABLE 1 Vehicle Speed Steering Angle High Speed 80 kph or higher 0-2°Medium Speed 30 kph to 80 kph 0-3° (lower than 80 kph, but above 30 kph)Low Speed lower than 30 kph 0-5°

In table 1, unless the steering angle exceeds 2° while the vehicletravels at high speed, it may be determined that the touch of the driveris not intended for steering. Unless the steering angle exceeds 3° whilethe vehicle travels at medium speed, it may be determined that the touchof the driver is not intended for steering. Unless the steering angleexceeds 5° while the vehicle travels at low speed, it may be determinedthat the touch of the driver is not intended for steering.

In other words, unless the steering angle exceeds 2° while the vehicletravels at high speed, it may be determined that the touch of the driveris intended for manipulating. Unless the steering angle exceeds 3° whilethe vehicle travels at medium speed, it may be determined that the touchof the driver is intended for manipulating. Unless the steering angleexceeds 5° while the vehicle travels at low speed, it may be determinedthat the touch of the driver is intended for manipulating.

The steering angle sensor 20 may detect a steering angle through themanipulation of the steering wheel.

The vehicle speed sensor 30 may detect a vehicle speed.

The reference signal input unit 40 may input a reference signal usedwhen the touch sensor 50 detects the touch of the driver. Here, thereference signal may be a signal having a particular frequency.

Hereinafter, human body communication between the reference signal inputunit 40 and the touch sensor 50 will be described with reference to FIG.2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of detecting a touch of a driver throughhuman body communication, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

In FIG. 2, 211 denotes a charged plate that may input a reference signalfrom the reference signal input unit 40 to a human body. Here, thecharged plate 211 may input the reference signal to the human body whenit is positioned within a predetermined distance from the driver,irrespective of contact or non-contact with the driver. For example, thecharged plate 211 may be positioned in the interior of a driver's seat.

Next, the reference signal input through the charged plate 211 may betransferred to a steering wheel 230 through the human body. Here, 220denotes a path through which the reference signal is transferred throughthe human body.

Then, the touch sensor 50 may be a sensor module that detects the touchof the driver. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the touch sensor 50 may includea plurality of sensors, and may allow the controller 60 to recognize atouch pattern of the driver.

Hereinafter, the touch sensor 50 will be detailed with reference to FIG.3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a touch sensor, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the touch sensor 50 may include a plurality ofsensors mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle. For example, thetouch sensor 50 may include a first sensor 301, a second sensor 302, athird sensor 303, a fourth sensor 304, a fifth sensor 305 and a sixthsensor 306. Here, even when the steering wheel is covered with a cover300 made of a leather material, there may be no effect on the detectionof touches by respective sensors. For example, each of the sensors maybe a capacitive coupling sensor.

The controller 60 generally may control the aforementioned respectiveelements to perform the functions thereof normally.

In particular, when a touch of a driver is detected by the touch sensor50, the controller 60 may determine whether the touch of the driver isintended for steering or manipulating. For example, the controller 60may determine whether the touch of the driver is intended for steeringor manipulating by using a steering angle detected by the steering anglesensor 20 and a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 30 onthe basis of the table stored in the storage 10.

In other words, the controller 60 may determine that the touch of thedriver is intended for manipulating when the steering angle detected bythe steering angle sensor 20 is within a steering angle rangecorresponding to the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor30 on the basis of the table stored in the storage 10.

Then, the controller 60 may analyze a touch pattern of the driver whenthe touch of the driver is determined to be intended for manipulating,and may generate a control signal corresponding thereto.

For example, when an in-vehicle device to be manipulated is an audiovideo navigation (AVN), touch patterns of the driver for the start andend of manipulation, the movement of a cursor on a display screen, theselection of an icon on the display screen, and the like, are asfollows:

1) Start and End of Manipulation

the first sensor→the second sensor→the first sensor

Here, “start” may indicate that the pattern is initially started, and“end” may indicate that the pattern is implemented again.

2) Movement of Cursor to the Right on Display Screen

the first sensor→the second sensor→the third sensor→the fourth sensor(temporarily detect touch)

3) Continuous Movement of Cursor to the Right on Display Screen

the first sensor→the second sensor→the third sensor→the fourth sensor(continuously detect touch)

4) Movement of Cursor to the Left on Display Screen

the fifth sensor→the fourth sensor→the third sensor→the second sensor(temporarily detect touch)

5) Continuous Movement of Cursor to the Left on Display Screen

the fifth sensor→the fourth sensor→the third sensor→the second sensor(continuously detect touch)

6) Selection of Icon on Display Screen

An n-th sensor detects second consecutive touches.

Here, n may be any one of 1 to 6.

Meanwhile, the controller 60 may perform a filtering operation forremoving noise from a reference signal detected by each of the sensorswithin the touch sensor 50.

In addition, the touch sensor 50 may be, for example, a notch filter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method for manipulating in-vehicledevices using a steering wheel, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

First, the storage 10 may store a table in which steering angle rangesaccording to vehicle speed are recorded in operation 401.

Next, the touch sensor 50 may detect a touch of a driver in operation402.

The steering angle sensor 20 may detect a steering angle of the steeringwheel in operation 403.

The vehicle speed sensor 30 may detect a vehicle speed in operation 404.

Thereafter, the controller 60 may determine whether or not the steeringangle detected by the steering angle sensor 20 is within a steeringangle range corresponding to the vehicle speed detected by the vehiclespeed sensor 30 in operation 405.

As a result of operation 405, when the steering angle is within thesteering angle range corresponding to the vehicle speed, the controller60 may determine that the touch of the driver is intended formanipulating, analyze a touch pattern of the driver, and generate acontrol signal corresponding thereto in operation 406.

As a result of operation 405, unless the steering angle is within thesteering angle range corresponding to the vehicle speed, the controller60 may determine that the touch of the driver is intended for steeringin operation 407.

Throughout these operations, the driver may manipulate in-vehicledevices without removing his or her hands from the rim of the steeringwheel.

The above-stated method according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be written as a computer program. Codes and codesegments constituting the program may easily be inferred by a computerprogrammer skilled in the art. In addition, the written program may bestored in a computer-readable recording medium (an information storagemedium) and may be read and executed by a computer, thereby implementingthe method according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The recording medium may include all types ofcomputer-readable recording media.

As set forth above, a plurality of sensors that detects a touch of adriver may be provided on the rim of the steering wheel, such that itmay be determined whether the touch of the driver is intended forsteering or manipulating, and when the touch of the driver is intendedfor manipulating, a control signal with respect to a corresponding touchpattern may be generated, such that the driver can manipulate in-vehicledevices without removing his or her hands from the rim of the steeringwheel.

In addition, it may be determined whether the touch of the driver isintended for steering or manipulating on the basis of the resultsdetected by the steering angle sensor and the vehicle speed sensor.

Hereinabove, although the present disclosure has been described withreference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, thepresent disclosure is not limited thereto, but may be variously modifiedand altered by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosurepertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure claimed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devicesusing a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising: a storage for storinga table in which steering angle ranges according to vehicle speed arerecorded; a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of thesteering wheel; a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed; atouch sensor for detecting a touch of a driver; and a controller fordetermining that the touch of the driver is intended for manipulatingwhen the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor is withina steering angle range corresponding to the vehicle speed detected bythe vehicle speed sensor on the basis of the table stored in thestorage, analyzing a touch pattern of the driver, and generating acontrol signal corresponding thereto.
 2. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein, in the table, as the vehicle speed is increased, thesteering angle ranges are narrowed.
 3. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the touch sensor includes a plurality of sensors mounted onthe steering wheel.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a reference signal input unit for inputting a referencesignal to the driver through a charged plate.
 5. The apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein the touch sensor receives the reference signalthrough human body communication to detect the touch of the driver. 6.The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller performs afiltering operation for removing noise from the reference signalreceived by the touch sensor.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the plurality of sensors is provided as a capacitive couplingsensor.
 8. A method for manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steeringwheel, the method comprising: storing, by a storage, a table in whichsteering angle ranges according to vehicle speed are recorded;detecting, by a touch sensor, a touch of a driver; detecting, by asteering angle sensor, a steering angle of the steering wheel;detecting, by a vehicle speed sensor, a vehicle speed; determining, by acontroller, whether or not the detected steering angle is within asteering angle range corresponding to the detected vehicle speed;determining that the touch of the driver is intended for manipulatingwhen the detected steering angle is within the steering angle range,analyzing a touch pattern of the driver, and generating a control signalcorresponding thereto; and determining that the touch of the driver isintended for steering unless the detected steering angle is within thesteering angle range.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, inthe table, as the vehicle speed is increased, the steering angle rangesare narrowed.
 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in thedetecting of the touch of the driver, the touch of the driver isdetected by using a plurality of sensors mounted on the steering wheel.11. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in the detecting of thetouch of the driver, when a reference signal is input to the driverthrough a charged plate, the reference signal is received through humanbody communication to detect the touch of the driver.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 11, further comprising filtering for removal of noisefrom the received reference signal.